Geocaching

The Object of Geocaching

The object of Geocaching is to find the hidden container filled with a logbook, pencil and sometimes prizes! When you find the cache, write your name and the date you found it in the logbook. Larger caches might contain maps, books, toys, even money! When you take something from the cache you are honor-bound to leave something else in its place. Usually cache hunters will report their individual cache experiences on the Internet.

"One of our favorite caches took our family to Squashapenny Junction in Northern Hanover County."

—Polly Hutchinson of Richmond, VA

GPS Receiver

You'll need a GPS receiver that will determine your position on the planet in relation to the cache's "waypoint" - its longitude/latitude coordinates. You can buy a decent GPS receiver for around $100. More expensive ones have built-in electronic compasses and topographical maps, but you don't need all the extras to have fun geocaching.

Where are Caches?

Everywhere! But to be safe, be sure you're treading on public property.

Some might be hidden deep in a Virginia forest, on top of an Appalachian cliff or near a statue on Monument Avenue in Richmond. Some are in buildings and some are underground.

Plenty of ecentric people love creating caches for your amusement. They also love reading your comments in the logbook!

Geocaching continues to evolve:

Offset Caches — The waypoint is a benchmark instead of the cache itself. From the benchmark, the hunter must look for more clues to find the cache.

Multi Caches — Similar to Letterboxing, multi caches give coordinates to the next location and/or clues.

Virtual Caches — The waypoint is a landmark. Visit, find the answer, and report back back to the cache owner.

Letterboxing

The Object of Letterboxing

The object is similar to geocaching — find the Letterbox — but instead of just signing and dating the logbook, use a personalized rubber stamp. Most letterboxes include another rubber stamp for your own logbook. The creator of the letterbox provides clues to its location. Finding solutions to clues might require a compass, map and solving puzzles and riddles! This activity is great fun for the entire family!

Travel Bugs

A travel bug is a trackable tag with its own tracking number that is attached to an item. It is removed and taken from cache to cache. You can track it where its been on Geocaching.com. Each travel bug has its own Web page!

When you find a travel bug in a cache, take it on to the next cache(s) with you. Go online and enter the travel bug's tracking number and report where its been and where you left it.